Normal-surface turn-table.



EATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

o. G. EAWLEY. NORMAL sUEEAcE TURN TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

No. 889,870.. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

` '0. G. HAWLBY.

NORMAL SURFACE TURN TABLEl l.lLIPLIOATlOl FILED SEPT. 24,1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

v PATRNTRD JNR 2, 1908. 0. G. HAWLRY. NORMAL SURFACE TURN TABLE'.

APPLIQATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1906.

3 SHBETS-SHEET 3.

'UNITED 'STATES PATENT oEEioE.

CHARLES GILBER-'l` HAWLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FREDEICK A.GALE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

NORMAL-SURFACE TURN-TABLE.

Patented June 2, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it .known that I, CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY, acitizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Chicago, Illinois, have invented a certain newand useful Improved Normal- Surface Turn-Table, vof which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, such as will enableothers skilled in the-art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to improvements in railroad turn tables, and hasspecial reference to im rovements in normalsurface turn tables, t atis,such as are so constructed as not to require a pit.

The object of my invention is to provide a railroad turn table whichshall be supported by and adapted to turn upon a surface which is eitherlevel or substantially 'level with the surface of the surroundingrailroad yard, a primary urpose of the invention being to obviate t econstruction and use ofthe usual turn table pit.

Other objects of the invention are to simplify the construction and tolessen the cost of turn tables.

.Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

My invention consists generally in a plurality of circular tracks orrails laid in or on the surface of the yard, in combination with asuitable fixed center post or pin, a turn table comprising longitudinalstringers and cross bearers, the latter corresponding to said circulartracks, and a plurality of balls or rollers interposed between saidtracks and cross bearers and supporting said table.

^ Further my invention consists in a structure ofthe foregoingdescription wherein ball guides or retainers, substantially co-extensivewith said circular tracks, are attached to the turn table.

My invention also consists in novel means for operating turn tables, ofthe .character briefly described.

Further my invention consists in various details of construction and incombination of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described.`

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, wliich form a part of this specification, and inwhich;

Figure 1, is a plan view of a turn table embodying my invention; Fig.'2, is an enlarged vertica section of substantially one-half of the turntable on the line XX ofFig. 1 Fig. 3, is a still further enlargedtransverse vertical section on the irregular line Y-Y of Fig. l viewedin the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4, is a longitudinal verticalsection showing the parts on the same scale as Fig. 3, as

they appear on the line Z-Z of Figs. 1 and 3. Y

Fig. 5, 1s an enlarged vertical section on the line U-U of Fig. 1,showing the mechanism which I employ for rotating the table; Fig.

-6, is a top view of one of the cross bearers or transverse members ofthe turn table; and Fig. 7, shows the same member inverted.

A turn table of the construction herein shown is ordinarily not lessthan fifty feet in length, and many tables approximate ninety feet inlength. The space appropriated to such a table is a circular area ofcorresponding diameter. The incoming and outgoing tracks to be served bythe table approach the latter at different angles and terminate at theedge of the circular surface. The surface of the yard adjacent to theturn table is usually carefully leveled. The incoming and outgoingtracks are laid on the surface, their ties being sunk therein. The turntable surface is usually flush or level withthe yard surface and asstated is defined by the swing of the table. It is further dened by acircular rail or track laid in the surface and having its top eitherflush with orl slightly above the yard surface. There are provided asuitable number of such tracks, of different diameters concentricallyarranged, their number depending upon the length of the table and theirspacing being determined by various factors, amonfr which is the size orstrength of the channel members or stringers, which support the turntable rails. Said circular tracks are designated 1, 1, in the drawings.

The rails. are preferably inade of wrought metal and each com rises aflat base portion 1, and two upturne iianges. The rails are mounted oncircular foundation walls, 3, that rise to or through the turn tablesurface. order lthat said surface may be kept free of mud and water, itis preferably covered with a layer of cement or concrete, 4, up to thebases of the tracks, 1, 1, and for draining the surface, the annulardivisions or portions thereof are concavedor depressed, and from tracks,13.

low points, 4', therein, ducts, 5, lead to a sewer or basin, 6. l

A primary `pur ose of my 1nvent1on 1s to make the turn tab e as low aspossible, so that the tops of its rails will be level with the tops ofthe yard rails. It is for this reason, and with a view to reducing thefriction, that I em loy com aratively small roller bearings or balls.here balls are used, I providey .annular grooved ball-races, 8, andmount them in the respective rails, 1, 1. Said ball races may be-ofeither wrought or cast metal, and preferably case-hardened. The balls,9, are laid in the ball-race grooves, preferably in contact, so thatthey form unbroken rings of balls. l The turn table, designated as awhole by reference character,r2, com rises in its construction, a pairof flange channel members or stringere, rigidly and solidly connectedtogether, a ser1es of transverse bearers which rest upon the balls, ,asuitably braced platform carrying the driving mechanism, and acenter-pin bearmg.

The stringere, 10, are referably continuous from'end to end of t etable, and support in'theirA bottoms the two rails, 12, that receive thecars or locomotives from the yard Said rails are secured to thestringere preferably by riveting.

The cross bearers, 14 and 15, are disposed above the respective tracks,1, and squarely across the turn table, exce ting the central crossbearers hereinafter escribed. Each cross bearer, 14, consists of a heavyintegral castin comprising a flanged web, provided with epressions orrecesses, 16, for the reception of the stringere, 10, and formed in itslower side with an arcuate longitudinal ball-bearing groove, 17, whichconforms to the curvature of the circular rail or bearing upon which itmoves. 'Said groove, 17, isf formed in the top of a wider groove, havinginclined sides, 18. These inclined sides lie close to the inner andouter sides of the rail, and extend nearly to the basethereof, thusexcluding dust or obstructions from-that por' tion-of the ball-racecovered by the crossbearer. The upper surface of the ball bearinggroove, 17 is slightly inclined upwardly towardits end to facilitate itsmovements upon the balls. The cross bearers, 14, are provided with upperlateral flanges, 19, and with lower lateral flanges, 20; also with endflanges, 21. The stringere, 10, are provided with side flanges, 2'2, andare secured to the cross bearers, 14, 15, by rivets passing through saidflanges, 23, and through the top flanges, 19, of the cross bearers. Saidtop flanges are conformed to the Stringer-recesses, 16, as shown.

The channel stringere are reinforced by longitudinal auxiliary stringereor I beams, 24, which are held in contact with the under A convenientand sim the sides of the cross bearers, and their ends rest upon theheavy bottom cross bearer flanges, 20. The u per end corners of beams24, are cut away to et the ends of said beams abut the lateral faces orWebs of the cross bearers, 14. Thus the portions of stringere,

10, that lie between cross bearers will be relieved or reinforced, whenthe load comes upon them.

The cross bearers are further rigidly connected longitudinally of thetable, by channel or other bars, 26, which are riveted to the endflanges, 21, andy may be in separate lengths connecting the crossbearers, or may be continuous, like the channel stringere, 10. The lowerflanges of bars, 26, rest upon shoulders or lugs, 27, upon the ends ofthe cross bearers, or in other words, the ends of the cross bearers arecut away to receive said bars. The cross bearers may be further bracedand interconnected by diagonal members, as indicated by dotted lines inFig. 1.

To protect and retain the balls, 9, Within their grooves, where notcovered by the cross bearers of the table, l have provided the tablewith a proximately semicircular ball-retainers. and) protectors, 28; twofor each of the circular rails or ball-races. One of these parts isshown in cross section in Fig. 5, at which vpoint it supports theoperators platform, 29. Ae shown, it comprises a flat top or web, 28,and a flanges, 28', which almost touch the edges of the rail; the top orweb, 28, having a plane under surface resting on the balls, 9. The endsof the ball-retainers, 28 which lieat the platform side of the turntable are preferably rigidly secured to the'ends of respective crossbearers, 14. Those at the other side of the table, however, are soattached to the cross bearers that they may be lifted from off theballs, to permit inspection, or cleaning of the ball-races and also topermit the balls to be laced in their grooves and removed thereromaf-ter the turn table has been installed. le way to permit the liftingof the ball retamers is to pivot their ends, as shown, in Figs. 1 and 3,they are provided with hinge lugs 30, connected by pins, '31, tohinge-lugs, 32, riveted to or cast integral with the cross bearers, 14.

The stringere, 10, and the cross bearers are suitably braced, as by topplates, or braces. As shown, a longitudinal plate, 34, extending thelength of the table, is riveted to the top cross bearer flanges, 19.This plate rovides a footway for persons croselng t e turn table; Abovethe inner and smaller track, 1, it is better construction to employ acircular cross bearer as 15 than two straight cross bearers, forthestringere, 10. A circular pair of depending cross bearer is shown inFigs. 1 and 2, in plan and section respectively. It is provlded withdepressed recesses to receive the stringers, 10, and is riveted to theirfianges, 19, like the straight cross bearers, 14. It is of courseprovided with ball bearing grooves and with flanges which cover thesides ofthe circular track thereunder.

Two of the ball retaining arcs, 28, support the operators platform, 29,which carries either a motor, 38, or a hand-power gear for turning thetable. The motor or crank is geared by cog wheels, 39-40, to a radialshaft, 41, held in bearings, 42-43. On the end of shaft, 41, is a beveldriving pinion, 44,

The driving impulse is transmitted from the platform, 29, to the ends ofthe turn table by t1e rods, 46, connecting the outer portions of theformer to the latter. The platform is further braced and held inposition by suitable bars such as the arrangement of three bars, 47,shown, with their inner ends connected to three of the cross bearers,and converging toward the platform to which their outer ends aresecured. As stated, the platform is supported by two of the varcuatemembers, 28, which rest upon the roller bearings. The axis of rotationis provided by a center-pin, 36, or, its equivalent, either fixed in theturn table surface or secured to the turn table itself. As shown, thepin, 36, is held by a sunken block or casting 37, and thecenter-pinbearing, 35, is suitably secured to, or made integral with,the center cross bearer, 1-5. The center-pin serves not only as a ful.-crum, but receives the end thrust upon the turn tableiwhen rolling stockis moved there over. Anysuitable means iforlaccurately.

registering and locking the turn table in line with any track, 13, maybe employed.

It will be obvious that I may locate the channel-like stringersupon thetops of the cross bearers and thereby avoid notching the latter; butinsuch cases the table rails are somewhat above the yard tracks, and it isnecessary to incline or rase the adjacent ends of the yard rails ortracks. This plan or construction. possesses an advantage arising fromthe fact that rolling stock cannot readily be driven on to the turntable surface; as the inclined ends of the yard rails tend to stop theapproach of cars or engines to the turn table.

As various other modifications of my invention will readily suggestthemselves to 'one skilled in the art, I do not limit the invention tothe specific construction herein described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. A railroad turn table comprising a straight track-supportingstructure, in combination with a motor platform at the side of theplatform and rigidly connected thereto, and circular bearings for saidstructure and platform; substantially as described.

2. A railroad turn-table comprising` a straight track-supportingstructure, in combination with circular track and roller bearings forsaid structure, a circular rack fixed below said structure andconcentric with said bearings, a motor platform at the side of andrigidly connected to said structure, and gearing comprising a drivepinion meshing with said circular rack; substantially as described.

3. A railroad turn-table comprising a straight track-supportingstructure, in combination with circular roller bearings therefor, acircular rack iXed belowsaid structure and concentric with saidbearings, a motor platform rigidly connected to said structure andsupported by said bearings, and gearing comprlslng a drive pinionmeshing with said rack; substantially as described.

4. The combination with a turn-table mounted on roller bearings, vofupwardly movable retainers and protectors concentric with and coveringsaid bearings and carried by the turn-table; substantially as described.

5. A straight track-supporting structure in combination with circularroller bearings therefor and a'rcuate roll retainers and protectorscarried by said structure and covering those portions of the bearingsnot covered by the track-sup orting structure; substantially asdescribed).

6. A railroad turn-table comprising a plurality of metal cross bearers,each rovided with two depressed portions, in com ination with a pair ofchanneled track-supporting stringers resting upon and secured to saicross bearers within said depressed portions; substantially asdescribed.

7. A railroad turn-table comprisinga plurality of metal cross bearers,each provided with two depressed portions, in` combination with a pairof channeled track-supporting stringers resting upon and secured to saidcross bearers within said depressed portions, and longitudinal members.for reinforcing said stringers; substantially as described.

8. A railroad turn-table comprising a plu.- rality of metal crossbearers, each provlded with two depressed portions, in combination witha pair of channeled track-supportin stringers resting upon and'securedto sai cross bearers within said depressed ortions, and continuouslongitudinal mem ers secured to the ends of said cross bearers andreinforcing said stringers; substantially as described.

9. A railroad turn-table comprising a plurality of metal cross bearers,each provided with two depressed portions, a pair o ianged channelstringers resting upon and secured to said cross bearers within saiddepressed portions, and auxiliary stringers underlying the flanges ofsaid channel stringers and secured to the cross bearers; substantiallyasl described.

10. In a normal surface turn table, a metal cross bearer comprising abody or web having transverse recesses to receive channel stringers, andhaving top and bottom longitudinal flanges for attachment to saidstringers and other members; substantially as described.

11. In a normal surface turn table, a metal cross bearer comprising abody or web having transverse recesses to receive channel stringers, andhaving top and bottom longitudinal fianges and end flanges forattachment to saidstringers and other members; substantially asdescribed.

12. A normal surface turn table comprising a straight track supportingstructure provided with metal cross earers each hav- 1n a body or weband a longitudinal, curved, ro ler bearing way or race in its lowerside; substantially as described.

13. A normal surface turn table comprising a plurality of metal crossbearers, and having longitudinal, curved, roller bearing recesses intheir under sides,.in combination with a pair of channel stringerssecured to and resting on said cross bearers, and rails laid in thechannels of said'stringers; substantailly as described. 1

14. A-normal surface turn table comprising a pair or rail supportingchannel stringers and centrally disposed annular cross bearingsthereunder, and a plurality of spaced, straight cross bearers, all thecross bearers being rigidly secured to said stringers and having curvedroller bearing grooves in their lower sides; substantially as described.

15. A normal surface turn table comprising a pair of rail supportingchannel stringers and a centrally disposed annular cross bearerthereunder, a center pin bearing, a center in, and a plurality ofspaced, straight cross bearers, all the cross bearers being rigidlysecured to said stringers and having curved roller bearing grooves intheir lower sides; substantially as described.

16. A normal surface turn table comprising a plurality of metal crossbearers, a pair of channeled rail supporting stringers resting on andsecured to said cross bearers, and a longitudinal plate riveted uponsaid cross bearers-and extending between said stringers; substantiallyas described.

17. A normal surface turn table comprising a plurality of metal crossbearers having top and bottom longitudinal anges, in combination with apair of flan ed channel stringers resting on and secure to said topflanges, and auxiliary stringers underlying the fianges of the channelstringers to reinforce the same and having their ends secured to saidcross bearers substantially as described.

18. A plurality of spaced concentric tracks provided with rollerbearings, in combination with a turn table comprislng a plurality ofmetal cross bearers alined with said tracks,

said cross bearers having curved roller bear I mg grooves, a pair offlanged channel stringers resting on and secured to said cross bearers,lateral continuous bars secured to and connecting the ends of the crossbearers, and reinforcing members supporting the anges of said stringers,said'reinforcing members being supported by the cross bearers;substantially as described. A

19. The combination of a circular roller bearing track, rollers mountedthereon, and a turn table comprising a cross bearer alined with saidtrack, said cross bearer having a track groove of the same curvature asthe track and sufficiently dee to overhang the same, the up er portion osaid groove 4being provided wit a roller bearing surface; substantiallyas described.

20. The combination of a circular roller bearing track, rollers mountedthereon, and a turn table comprising metal cross bearers alined withsaid track, each cross bearer having a track groove of the samecurvature as the track and sufliciently deep to overhang the same, aortion of said groove being deepened to crm a roller bearing groove;-

bearing, resting on said-rollers, and carried by the turn tab e;substantially as described.

22. The combination with a turn table and a circular roller bearin tracktherefor, of rollers held by said track and a semicircular retainer andprotector conforming to the bearing, restin on said rollers, and carriedby the turn tab e; substantially as described.

23. The combination of a plurality of concentric roller bearing tracks,a turn table, and a platform upon said tracks, table drivin mechanism onsaid platform, and arc shape bearing protectors and retainers carried bythe turn table, said platform being sup orted by one or more of saidretainers, su stantially as described.

24. A circular rail of channeled section disdrive pinion driven by themotor and engag'- l Eosed with the channel upward, and a ball in therack; substantiallf as described.

n te

olding rin vund an annular rack held within stimony whereof, havehereunto set the charme of seid rail; substantially as demy hand, this30th day of August, 1906,' 1n

s scribed. the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

25. A circular rail having two 11p-turned CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY.flanges, a ball holding ring, and 'an annular Witnesses: rack heldbetween said flanges, a turn table, JOHN R. LEFEVRE, i

a motor platform, a. motor thereon, and a F. G. KNIGHT,

